Category: clutter tips

Marie Kondo Tidying Up

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Marie Kondo has sparked a tidying up revolution.

Marie Kondo is the best-selling author of “The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up” and “Spark Joy”; she also has a Netflix series, “Tidying Up With Marie Kondo”.  Her goal is to help you tidy their spaces by choosing joy.  Through that, she offers tips and tricks to help you become more organized and intentional with your belongings.

There are numerous benefits to decluttering things around your home. For instance, less clutter creates lower stress.  Also, this tidying up revolution has led to an increase in donations to Goodwill!  This time of year spring cleaning means decluttering. Here are some easy tips from Marie’s book as you start your home decluttering projects:

Here are some examples of folding your t-shirts to stand up in a drawer.  The idea behind this is you can fit more in your drawers, and be able to see everything that is stored there. Your folding technique doesn’t have to be perfect, and it only takes a second to fold your clothes this way.

1.    When starting your decluttering and tidying project, begin with clothes and end with sentimental items.  Regarding organizing clothing, Marie says, “The key is to store things standing up rather than laid flat.”

It seems like a lot of work to follow Marie’s advice and pull all your clothing out of closets and drawers and put everything in a pile.  She recommends you touch each item of clothing and ask yourself if it “sparks joy.” If the answer is “no,” donate to Goodwill and let it spark joy for someone else!

This is also the advice of our resident Goodwill Fashion Guru, Kathy Friend.  According to Kathy, “If you touch everything in your closet, you will quickly decide to rehang it or refold it and put it away.” Many times you will determine you don’t like an item enough to put it away in your wardrobe.  Kathy also suggests storing items you are not ready to part with. “We all have things in our closet we aren’t ready to donate. Put those items in a box and store it away from your closet. In a few months you may be ready to donate it to Goodwill.”

Keep the things in your closet to a logical ratio of 75% tops and 25% pants. Use this info graphic as a guide.

2.    Kondo’s mantra for tidying up, “to truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose.”

Your life is changing and transitioning.  For example,  you go from living with parents, to living on your own. And then you may have children, and then send them to school.  Before you know it, the nest is empty.  Are you storing things that have outlived their purpose and belong in the past?  Donate those things to Goodwill Keep things that are helpful in your future and let someone else cherish things that brought you to where you are today.

 

3.    Regarding paper clutter, Kondo says, “Make sure that you keep all papers in one spot only. Never let them spread to other parts of the house.”

Paper clutter can cause stress in your home.  Make this step a priority. First, dedicate a spot in your home where all paper lives (it does not have to a separate home office – it can be a corner in the living room or dining room, or possibly a guest room).  Next, recycle junk mail before it even comes into the house.  Finally, make a date with yourself to deal with your paper – if not daily, then every 2-3 days.  Having paper all over the house almost guarantees that important events and bills will fall through the cracks.

I am so glad this wasn’t sparking joy for someone and they donated it. Look what I found on a shopping trip to Goodwill!

4.    “Believe what your heart tells you when you ask, ‘Does this spark joy?’”

You might feel this step is a bit crazy, however, this “yes” or “no” question is just what is needed to decide whether to keep an item or donate to Goodwill.

That is to say there is no “magic” for decluttering and getting organized.  It takes time and effort, both mentally and physically.  Make a date with yourself and get started, or hire a professional to get you on the right track.

This month’s guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild

Get in touch with Cathy at:  sayyestoless.guru  or find her on Facebook

 

 

 

 

 

Organize Your Basement Using Simple Tips

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Last February, many of us had flooded basements when combined snow and rain caused flooding in our area.  For some, it was a total loss (as evidenced by all the “stuff” that went to the curb in the days and weeks afterward).  Organizing your basement using simple tips could have avoided this disaster.

Thinking ahead and organizing with water protection in mind can avoid a catastrophe. Melting snow/rain, an overflowing washing machine, a water heater leak, bathtub on the main floor runs over, all disasters that will ruin your memories that are in storage. 

Organizing basements is on all of our to-do lists. It only takes a few hours and some simple organizing tools. As a result, you will accomplish one of those never ending to-do list items and protect your possessions from water damage.

ISSUE: In this  “Before” picture, the basement floor was used for storage.  Therefore, the clutter is a dangerous tripping hazard, and it makes it hard to see what is underneath the piles. 

SOLUTION: A few hours later, we eliminated the clutter and hazard to reveal an organized space. First, we found several metal and plastic shelves. This kind of shelving is a real treasure when you find it at your local Goodwill Store!

Second, we used several clear storage bins to keep the items safe from dust and moisture. Items in the bins are organized by type; for example holiday decorations, documents, and family memories. Label each bin so in the future, it is easy to see what the bin contains.

Finally, clear the floor and donate to Goodwill!

When you organize your basement using simple tips, you will know what you have, be able to find it easily and quickly, and above all you will able to put things away in a place that makes sense to you.

Your organizing challenge is to go through the things in your basement and declutter!  Keep only what you know to be useful or important and let go of the rest.  Protect what remains in waterproof bins and/or put them up on a shelf.  This will create a safer space for your family and your things will hopefully survive any unexpected water.  

This month’s guest blogger is Cathy Fairchild

Get in touch with Cathy at:

http://www.sayyestoless.guru

https://www.facebook.com/sayyestoless.guru/

How to Make It Easier to Organize Your Garage

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Have you HAD IT with the clutter in your garage?  This week, join our Certified Professional Organizer, Lorie Marrero, as she offers tips on how to deal with the disaster!

from: https://www.clutterdiet.com/clutter-video-tip-how-to-make-it-easier-to-organize-your-garage/
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Did you know that some of the greatest modern accomplishments have all been born in the same room of the house? Joey Ramone, Silicone Valley moguls, and countless entrepreneurs all have this one inspirational room in common – the garage. Is your garage inspirational? Can you park in it, can you find your tools? Watch this video for tips on organizing and inspirationalizing this often forgotten space. You will be one step closer to your own garage innovation.
(Click here to watch on YouTube if you can’t see the embedded player. Or watch the video at http://bit.ly/tcdshelf.)

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Spring (or summer!) Cleaning Myths and Resources

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The kids are out of school for the summer, how are you doing on your Spring Cleaning plan?  Has that plan moved to a summer-cleaning goal?

Many of us will have the best of intentions to organize things around our homes, and really clean things up this summer. This week we decided to take some advice from an organizing expert on the best way to start these daunting projects!

(from: https://www.clutterdiet.com/spring-cleaning-myths-and-resources/)

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People always ask us about Spring Cleaning, and I love the idea and energy of throwing open the windows and starting fresh with your house, reflecting all of the new life and beauty around us outside!

When I talk with people about Spring Cleaning, however, the first thing I want to tell them is that I am not a cleaning expert. I don’t know 100 household uses for vinegar, but I do know a thing or two about organizing your closets, bathrooms, kitchens, and garages!

I also want to bust the myth that you “must” do some kind of major overhaul of your home in the spring, like there is some kind of rule about exactly what should be done. Every home is different and people live in different climates, and people have varying degrees of maintenance they do all year round. Certainly there are seasonal things to do that are smart, like switching out your sweaters for shorts. But if you do a good job keeping things clean most of the year, you don’t “have to” break out the kneepads and scrub the floor, unless you want to. I always want people to feel comfortable doing what WORKS for them and not compare themselves to some unrealistic standard.

If you are feeling inspired by spring like so many people are, here are some questions about “Spring Cleaning” that you can think about as you approach your weekend, with some resources to help:

What cleaning projects do you want to get done? If you are inspired to do some major cleaning like baseboards, drapes, blinds, or comforters– decide on it, schedule it in and get it done, coordinating with your family for the extra effort you’ll need. For me, a must is cleaning my patio furniture so I can enjoy sitting outside. Our Clutter Diet members have access to household systems & routines that can help you plan all of your tasks throughout the year! We now offer the FREE 7-Day Quickstart which includes seven days of focused guidance from me plus an additional 7 days of full access and support!. For help with cleaning tips, please refer to Heloise at Good Housekeeping. Here is a great article with her 20 most popular household hints.


What organizing projects do you want to get done? We suggest closets because of the seasonal swap-out of clothing, and we also think it’s a great time to organize your garage, since it’s not too hot outside yet. Your refrigerator and pantry might need some attention, and your bathroom cupboards probably need first aid items and sunscreen to be restocked. If you’d like some support to get these projects done, our expert team is available 7 days a week to consult with you in our member message boards! 

What is your disposal plan? When you do big projects, especially like garages or basements, you need to plan ahead a little, and you will probably need some help hauling away that old broken bulky stuff.  If you just need to find your nearest Goodwill Donation Center, go to Goodwill-NI.org.


Enjoy your weekend, and enjoy your summer! What are your favorite Spring-Summer Cleaning tasks? Share in the comments!





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How to Organize Kid’s Rooms, Closets, and Toys from Lorie Marrero

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This week, author of The Clutter Diet, Lorie Marrero, shares how to deal with all the kid stuff!  What if your world didn’t include the stress of all the clutter from the toys and clothes? Impossible? Check out this video for tips on how to achieve the possible!

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It’s time to take off the kid gloves and tackle getting your children organized. Monday’s child may be fair of face, but frustrations mount when toys aren’t put back in place. Watch this video to tackle kid’s clothes, shoes, and toys. Without that daily stress you can be the poster child for relaxing, fun free time, and that’s not just child’s play!

 from: https://www.clutterdiet.com/clutter-video-tip-how-to-organize-kids-rooms-closets-and-toys/

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Clutter Video Tip: Good Riddance! 5 Good Reasons to Declutter & LET IT GO

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We are thrilled to introduce our readers to Lorie Marrero – she’s a pretty big deal in the world of de-cluttering and organizing. We hope you enjoy getting to know her, and get some useful tips on how to just LET IT GO!

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“I’ve got whozits and whatzits galore, you want thingamabobs? I’ve got twenty!” If this sounds like you, but you aren’t hanging out in an undersea cavern with a lobster named Sebastian, it may be time to declutter. Watch this video, and learn how to let go of the gadgets and gizmos a-plenty that you really don’t need. Say good riddance to your trove of “treasures” untold and let it go so you can make room for something fantastic to be Part of Your World!

Transcript:

Hi. I’m Lorie Marrero, creator of the Clutter Diet book and on-line program, and when you’re organizing sometimes, it can be very difficult to let go of things, to get rid of things, and let’s talk today about five reasons that might make it a little easier for you to say not only goodbye, but even good riddance to some of your things.

First of all, you can’t have anything new and useful and beautiful come into your life if you don’t have room for it. So if your closet is stuffed full of clothes that you don’t wear, you can’t even see what you have, how are you going to make room for anything new and gorgeous and fun to come into your wardrobe? You’ve got to get rid of that stagnant stuff so that you can see what new is coming in and enjoy that and have a flow in and out.

Secondly, some of your possessions may have memories associated to them that are not serving you right now. So they may be very unpleasant memories, you might want to say buh-bye to some of the possessions of your ex that are still laying around from some kind of painful breakup or divorce. That can be very therapeutic to get rid of those items. You also might have other unpleasant memories sitting around that you haven’t thought about. Like a binder from some training class from a job that you used to have and didn’t like. Or, you know, other things that represent a person that you used to be and not the person that you are now. The other things you might have around are memories that are actually pleasant memories of someone who you’ve lost, that you have been missing. They are a loved one that you wish were still around, and you want to honor that person. But what you don’t want is for that person’s belongings and all of those memories to be the predominant influence in your space to the point where it confuses your present and obscures your future and doesn’t allow you to move on to a new chapter in your life. So, again, whatever things you’re keeping, make sure the memories associated with that are serving you right now.

Third, let’s talk about things that are taking up a lot of your time, being a slave to your possessions. You might want to get rid of things if they require a lot of maintenance. So, how much are you dusting and polishing these things? Replacing the batteries? Replacing parts? How much of your stuff requires care when you go out of town? This takes a lot of your time, and maybe this factor might be the reason that pushes you to decide to get rid of something.

Next, let’s talk about the phrase “perfectly useful.” So you may have something that’s perfectly useful but it’s not perfectly useful to you. This is why I love donating my clothing and household goods to Goodwill, because I know not only is the person purchasing that item going to enjoy it, and that person is going to have a good home for that item, but the revenue from that is going to go directly to help someone in my own community, my own neighbors, to get job training, job placement services, and many other kinds of services that are really needed. So that helps me to get rid of things, because I know they’re going to a good home, and they’re going to do good in the world.

Next, let’s talk about how your possessions really complicate your life, and you can simplify your decisions by having fewer things. So essentially, fewer choices mean easier decisions. So, if you are going to select a pair of shoes, it’s much easier to choose a pair from a 30-pair collection versus having, you know, 80-something pairs of shoes. It’s going to take you a lot more time to decide that every single morning.

Essentially, you want your possessions to represent who you are and who you want to be, and you want your environment every day to support your goals moving forward. So if things that you’re debating about, whether to keep them, should you let go of them. If they are not meeting that criteria, then you should probably get rid of them. Think about it. And if you’d like more tips you can find a lot more where this came from at http://www.clutterdiet.com/freetips.

See you next time, and may you always be happy and grateful for having more than enough.